Truth was a subject very much on the mind of Mary Ellen Ring, SC for the prosecution, as she quoted the words of his own daughter back to him: "I was brought up never to lie."

Colour flooded through the curiously immobile face of the 52-year-old advertising producer as Ms Ring asked if he recalled his daughter saying that and if he had been present for her childhood, or if that had been "the work of her mother".

Please sign in or register with Independent.ie for free access to Opinions.